Here’s What To Expect From A Facial

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Even if you only know a tiny bit about the world of health and beauty esthetics, you’ve probably heard of facials before. They’re one of the most common beauty treatments out there and for good reason. People have been using facials in one form or another for thousands of years and they’re still a great option today.

Here at Jiva Spa Toronto, we pride ourselves on giving the best facials in town. But if you’ve never had a facial before, you might be worried because you don’t know what to expect.

This article should help clear up any misconceptions you may have about facial treatments.

Where Do Facials Come From?

Many different cultures all over the world have used facial treatments to improve their outward appearance, reduce the signs of aging, and enjoy healthier skin. Some of the earliest examples we have of facial treatments come from ancient Egypt, where people began documenting their skincare practices as early as 3000 BC.

The famous Cleopatra used clay from the Dead Sea as well as egg whites to keep her skin looking youthful. There are also examples of facial-like treatments in China’s Tang Dynasty (around 700 AD) and the early days of the Roman Empire (1st century AD).

Why Are Facials Important?

Facials help treat a number of common problems that don’t get addressed otherwise. This is true even for people who live healthy lifestyles with exercise, a good diet, and a smart beauty regime.

Facials can help your skin make the transition from season to season. Drier weather in the winter can leave your skin cracked and damaged, but a facial can help you avoid that. As well, when the weather gets warm again you can end up breaking out due to increased oil in your skin. A facial can help there too.

If you’re the type who’s prone to acne in the first place, an acne facial can help you reduce the effects. And if you’re starting to notice the signs of aging, an anti-aging facial can help you retain a youthful appearance as well.

How Often Should You Get A Facial?

The answer to this question really depends on your skin type and the time of year. If you’re prone to dry skin, for example, you should see your esthetician more often during the winter. And likewise, those with oily skin will benefit from more trips to the spa during the summer.

As a general rule, it helps to get a facial once a month or so. But we’ll give you a more specific recommendation based on your unique needs.

What Are The Benefits Of A Facial?

Again, this depends. Each person has different beauty goals and skin needs, so the benefits are very personal.

But in general, facial treatments can leave you with smoother, firmer, softer, more radiant skin, better hydration, and reduced acne breakouts.

Are There Any Risks?

Facial treatments are considered among the most routine beauty treatments out there, and as a result negative side effects are both rare and mild.

The most common side effect is a bit of redness or blotchiness. This usually fades within a day or so at most. This is especially common if you’re getting a facial with extractions, like the acne facial. As a result, it’s best to get a facial at least a couple of days before a major event where you need your skin to look its best.

The extractions can also be somewhat painful depending on the nature of your acne, but this is very mild and tolerable to most.

There is also a slight chance you may have an allergic reaction to the products used during your facial. If you have any known allergies, tell your esthetician before your facial treatment.

Because a facial involves exfoliation, deep cleansing, and removal of the top layer of dead skin cells on your skin, it can sometimes make your skin look a little worse before it gets better. But a day or two after your treatment, you should be able to look in the mirror and enjoy beautiful, radiant skin.

More Information

As always, here at Jiva Spa Toronto we’re happy to help you make the right choice when it comes to your skin care. A facial may or may not be the best option for you to meet your goals, and our experienced estheticians can help you understand your needs.

Contact Jiva Spa Toronto today and book an appointment with an esthetician for a FREE skincare consultation. You’ll get a chance to explain your goals and desires, and from there we’ll help you put together a treatment plan designed to meet them.

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Your Questions On Eyebrow Threading, Answered

Your Questions On Eyebrow Threading, Answered is available on Anti-Aging and Beauty Spa - Jiva

There are many different ways to remove unwanted body hair, but one of the most unique is eyebrow threading.

While it’s been practiced all over the world for centuries, it’s a fairly new phenomenon here in Canada. So if you have some unwanted body hair and are wondering if threading is right for you, read on!

First Things First. What Is Eyebrow Threading Anyway?

Eyebrow threading is a technique used to remove excess hair from the area around the eyebrows. While we can’t pin down a specific date, most agree that it has its origins in Central Asia, near modern India, and has been practiced for thousands of years.

Less painful than waxing, less invasive than laser hair removal, quicker than tweezing, and longer lasting than shaving, many people feel eyebrow threading is the ideal method of shaping your eyebrows.

How Does Eyebrow Threading Work?

Threading works by twisting two cotton threads together. When this is done over a hair, the threads grab onto the hair. Then when the thread is pulled away, the hair is pulled with it.

Does Eyebrow Threading Hurt?

Because you’re pulling your hairs out by the root, it can cause mild discomfort. The feeling is no worse, however, than plucking your eyebrows, less painful than laser hair removal, and significantly less painful than waxing.

Can I Get Other Areas Threaded Too?

In theory, you can use threading on any part of your body. But because the process works by targeting individual hairs, it’s not efficient to use it on areas with a larger amount of hair, like your legs or underarms. It’s mostly used for eyebrows, the upper lip, chin, cheeks, or neck where unwanted hair tends to be sparser.

Is Threading Better Than Other Hair Removal Methods?

Because threading is so precise, it can be more effective at treating smaller areas. It’s also easier to get elegant brow curves which frame your face through threading than by any other means of hair removal.

But the drawback to it being so precise is that doing it by yourself can lead to removing the wrong hairs, leaving gaps in your brows that you didn’t want. Of course, the eyebrow threading experts here at Jiva Spa Toronto are trained to avoid such errors.

Of course, it’s also less painful than waxing. Because waxing can often tear at your skin as well as the hairs it’s removing, it can cause irritation as well as increased pain. But threading’s precision allows you to target just the hairs while avoiding the skin around it.

And shaving is far from ideal on a woman’s face. While it’s a myth that shaved hairs grow back thicker, they often appear thicker because the smooth, tapered end has been cut so when they grow back the thickest part grows out first. This can leave an appearance of actual stubble, which is not something any lady wants to deal with!

Is Threading Okay If I Have Acne?

Yes, threading is fine for people with acne. In fact, threading is among the best facial treatments to use for those with acne. If you’re unsure, though, you can always come in for a consultation first.

Is Threading Okay If I Have Sensitive Skin?

Yes. Because threading is so much less invasive than other hair removal methods, it’s perfectly safe for sensitive skin. You might get a bit of redness around the area, but this should disappear after an hour or so. If you have extra sensitive skin, let us know.

How Should I Prepare For Eyebrow Threading?

Just make sure your hairs are above the skin. The fuller your brows are at this point, the better – that way we can see their natural shape and give you the best recommendation for nicely shaped brows.

Is Eyebrow Threading Right For Me?

If you’re still asking yourself this question after reading this article, that’s okay! Contact Jiva Spa Toronto and we’ll help you understand the benefits and drawbacks to eyebrow threading compared to every other hair removal method, and recommend the best beauty treatment plan to meet your goals.

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Skincare Tips For People With Sensitive Skin

Skincare Tips For People With Sensitive Skin was first published to Beauty Spa in Toronto - Jiva Spa

A group of researchers conducted a survey on skin types across the United States, with results published in the International Journal of Dermatology. They found that, of the nearly 1000 people surveyed, about 44% had either sensitive or very sensitive skin.

Women had it more than men (about 51% vs about 38%), but there were no significant differences accounting for age, ethnicity, or geographic location.

The point here is that sensitive skin is a common condition in today’s world. If you have sensitive skin yourself, you may have tried several different skincare treatments and gotten mixed results because of the nature of your skin.

This can be frustrating, since a well-meaning recommendation from a friend can lead to a rash, blotchiness, acne, itchiness, flaking, and other irritations. What’s a gal to do?

Follow some of these tips for people with sensitive skin! You can also come in for a facial treatment for sensitive skin at our spa – but more on that later.

Test The Products You Use

When you’re trying a new skincare product or routine, test it out on a small patch of your skin first. IT’s best to do this in an inconspicuous area – not your face.

Treat your skin with this new product, and then wait for 48 hours. If you notice a reaction, you’ll be glad you took the time to test it first! If not, you’re in the clear.

Moisturize

This is true for any skin type, but is especially true for those with sensitive skin.

Along with sensitive skin often comes dry skin, especially during the winter months. Using a natural moisturizer that suits your skin will help you lock in moisture, keeping your skin happier, healthier, and more radiant.

Avoid The Sun

I know that isn’t much of a concern this time of year, but as the snow begins to melt away you may be tempted to don your nicest bathing suit and soak up as many rays as you can in your backyard. And while that may feel good, too much sunshine can be harmful.

This is especially true for those with sensitive skin – the Sun’s rays can lead to rashes and irritations, sunburns, and of course the long-term threat of skin cancer.

Avoid Alcohol-Based Toners

Alcohol-based toners can do a great job of helping cleanse your face, especially if you have acne-prone skin. But these toners will irritate your sensitive skin, giving you the exact opposite of what you were hoping for.

Instead, try an alcohol-free toner. We have several options available here at Jiva Spa Toronto for you to choose from.

Watch What You Eat

Often, people with sensitive skin will experience flare-ups in symptoms like blotchiness, acne, dryness, or other irritations depending on the foods they eat.

Some common culprits include dairy, peanuts, tree nuts (like almonds, pecans, walnuts, or Brazil nuts), eggs, soy, gluten/wheat, and shellfish. If you find yourself with flare-ups more often than you’d like, consider cutting one of these out of your diet for a few weeks.

If, at the end, you notice an improvement in your skin, try re-introducing it into your diet. If the flare-ups return, it’s a good bet that this is one of the things causing your problems.

Drink More Water

This is true for any skin type – drinking more water keeps your entire body hydrated, including your skin. And since sensitive skin is more prone to drying out than other skin, it’s more important that you remain hydrated.

Get A Sensitive Skin Facial

Here at Jiva Spa Toronto, we offer a facial treatment specifically for those with sensitive skin. If you end up with flare-ups from other spa services, the sensitive skin facial may be for you.

Give us a call to book your FREE skincare consultation and find out how you can get the healthiest, most radiant looking skin possible.

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7 Key Laser Hair Removal Tips

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Laser hair removal can be an excellent solution for removing unwanted body hair in a more permanent fashion. It’s longer lasting than shaving, less painful than waxing, and can leave your body looking as smooth and hair-free as both of them.

But it isn’t a magical treatment. There are a few things you need to know before coming in for treatment, whether you want a small area like your underarms or a brazilian, or you want full body laser hair removal. Read on to find out some of the things you’ll need to know before getting your laser hair treatment.

Stay Out Of The Sun

You need to stay out of the sun for at least four weeks before coming in for a laser hair removal treatment. The reason for this is because laser hair removal works best with dark hair and light skin. This is because the laser’s light is automatically absorbed by the darkest thing nearby – your hair.

If your skin is darker because of a tan or because of a naturally darker pigment, you may not be able to experience the same results.

This is true also for tanning beds, spray tans, tanning lotions, and anything else that darkens the pigment of your skin.

Make sure to avoid the sun as much as possible after your treatment as well. If it can’t be helped, be sure to wear a sunscreen with a high SPF factor.

Make Sure You Shave Before Coming In

Unlike waxing, which needs a certain amount of hair to “grab on” to before treatment, you need to come in clean shaven before laser hair removal.

And speaking of which, if you’re planning on getting a laser hair removal treatment, you should not have waxed that area recently. After all, the laser targets your hair follicle, and waxing removes your hair follicle. It’s hard to target something that isn’t there!

Set Aside The Right Amount Of Time

Laser hair removal can be a bit of a slow process. If you want to treat a small area, like your upper lip or bikini line, your appointment will only take about fifteen minutes.

Meanwhile, a larger area, like a full leg or a man’s chest or back, can take upwards of two hours to complete.

Be Consistent!

In a perfect world, one laser hair removal treatment would be enough to remove all your unwanted body hair for good. But unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.

In order to get the best results, you’ll need to come in for treatment every four to six weeks on average, depending on the level of growth you have.

This gives the dead hair follicles enough time to fall out on their own and be refreshed for the next appointment.

And they do need to fall out on their own. Plucking or waxing is a bad idea, because it gets in the way of the process. You can feel free to shave, though.

One Body Part At A Time

While it may be tempting to get the entire process done and over with early on, your body can only safely absorb a certain amount of the laser’s beam.

This, and the time-consuming nature of the process, is why we suggest treating individual parts of your body at a time.

Proper After-Care Is Key

So as we already said, don’t wax or tweeze after your laser hair removal sessions, and avoid the sun if you can.

You’ll also need to avoid any scented products, especially deodorants and perfumes. These can irritate your skin, which becomes more sensitive after a laser hair removal session. Hot showers can have the same effect.

Laser Hair Removal Doesn’t Get 100% Of Your Hair

If you’re hoping for skin as smooth as when you first drag a razor over it, you may be slightly disappointed. There is always a limited amount of hair regrowth, but the hair that does come back is isolated, faint, and largely unnoticeable.

Most people express satisfaction with the level of hairlessness they can achieve through laser hair removal.

More Questions? Call Us!

If you’d like to learn more about laser hair removal treatments and whether they’re right for you, contact Jiva Spa Toronto today. You’ll get a chance to chat with one of our hair removal specialists who will help you better understand the process and your options.

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